Bro-Tek wheel spacers, a work of art!

[Tractor Factor]

Rainout yesterday so I installed the Bro-Tek 2" wheel spacers on the BX25. If I win the lottery someday I will buy a pair just to use for paperweights because they are just plain beautiful to look at. What precision machining, what a gorgeous hunk of metal! Also started installing the Bro-Tek skid plates, and I'm going back out now to finish putting them on. Hope to get out later today and see how the wider stance feels...it definitely looks cool. I didn't think that an extra two inches a side would really look much different, but it does.

Been thinking about those skid plates for a year now, but imajeepnut's recent thread on replacing the HST fan got me really motivated! BTW, the first pic's not mine, I forgot to get the camera out before I put the wheel back on.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I was looking at a thumb from them and the quality shows and I have a tool and die background.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Rainout yesterday so I installed the Bro-Tek 2" wheel spacers on the BX25. If I win the lottery someday I will buy a pair just to use for paperweights because they are just plain beautiful to look at. What precision machining, what a gorgeous hunk of metal! Also started installing the Bro-Tek skid plates, and I'm going back out now to finish putting them on. Hope to get out later today and see how the wider stance feels...it definitely looks cool. I didn't think that an extra two inches a side would really look much different, but it does.

Been thinking about those skid plates for a year now, but imajeepnut's recent thread on replacing the HST fan got me really motivated! BTW, the first pic's not mine, I forgot to get the camera out before I put the wheel back on.

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You're right, those are a nice hunk of steel. Have fun testing them out!

 

[JsBX]

Reading all of the other threads on these spacers, why would these void a warranty but Kubota would supply spacers to help with tire chain clearance?

 

[megaboz]

Trying not to hijack this thread, but on BX24 with the MMM (60 inch) does anyone know if they would cause interference?

Those look nice and I have been considering them for some time now...

 

[American Pit Bull]

Reading all of the other threads on these spacers, why would these void a warranty but Kubota would supply spacers to help with tire chain clearance?

Because they have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Of course, the BroTek spacers are wider than the 1.5" OEM spacers... This is one reason... It is beyond Kubota's engineered specs.
Adding to that... An aftermarket company has no incentive to properly engineer a bolt-on part.

Sure, the extra half inch on a solid and well machined BroTek spacer will only add a marginal load to the axles... But someone will always push the limits. JoeBlow machine shop may offer a 6" spacer. In which they could care less how much life was removed from the axles (after all, they do not have to pay a penny for the repair).

-No incentive or proper means to measure the adverse effect that the product will have on the equipment.

 

[Tractor Factor]

An aftermarket company has no incentive to properly engineer a bolt-on part.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this statement. A small company like this has the greatest of incentives in the products they put out, and that is the very success of the company itself. Often, companies like this do not feel the need to meet a particular price point in their engineering, and therefore actually provide better aftermarket products than the original manufacturer. Case in point, the "bolt-on" Bro-Tek skid plates, which some dealers have warned owners will also void their warranty. Kubota's solution is their HST fan protective "shield". Thanks, but I'll take the Bro-Tek.

Richard, the owner, has a long track record of carefully designed and tested products. He has demonstrated to hundreds of Kubota owners over the years that he is a man of integrity in both the sales and support of his products.

Really, I have no dog in this fight. Let every person do his own research, understand the risks and make his own decision. I've always been a bit of a contrarian, and it has served me well through the years. I'm very comfortable with my decision.

 

[Tractor Factor]

Trying not to hijack this thread, but on BX24 with the MMM (60 inch) does anyone know if they would cause interference?

Those look nice and I have been considering them for some time now...

You can email Richard ( Bro-Tek@hotmail.com ), he's good about returning emails. His literature states that the 2-inch spacers can only be used with the 60" MMM. For example, if you have a BX1860, which will take a 54-inch maximum MMM, you can't use these spacers. I believe he may soon be offering a 1-inch spacer for these smaller mower decks.

 

[Tractor Factor]

BTW, a quick report: I took the tractor out for a couple hours last night, concentrating on those parts of the property that I know from experience require extra caution (and I've got a lot of them here). Noticeable improvement in feel and handling in these areas. Can't put a number on it, not gonna say it's night and day, but yes, a tangible improvement in stability...and that's good enough for me. It's those rollovers you don't have you should learn to appreciate the most.

 

[megaboz]

I disagree wholeheartedly with this statement. A small company like this has the greatest of incentives in the products they put out, and that is the very success of the company itself. Often, companies like this do not feel the need to meet a particular price point in their engineering, and therefore actually provide better aftermarket products than the original manufacturer. Case in point, the "bolt-on" Bro-Tek skid plates, which some dealers have warned owners will also void their warranty. Kubota's solution is their HST fan protective "shield". Thanks, but I'll take the Bro-Tek.

Richard, the owner, has a long track record of carefully designed and tested products. He has demonstrated to hundreds of Kubota owners over the years that he is a man of integrity in both the sales and support of his products.

Really, I have no dog in this fight. Let every person do his own research, understand the risks and make his own decision. I've always been a bit of a contrarian, and it has served me well through the years. I'm very comfortable with my decision.

I don't think American Pit Bull was bashing Bro-Tek, but rather talking about just random companies who will make something to make money without researching if it would hurt the tractor it was installed.

There are large incentives for companies like Bro-Tek to look into what they make. A one time sale doesn't help those companies, but repeat business from people like the ones that frequent this iste.

But for some off the grid machine shop that thinks they can make a few bucks on E-Bay or similar avenues aren't going to be too worried about the negative effects their products may have. Usually all they have to do is include a disclaimer.

Either way, by now owners should know that modifying their equipment can/will most likely void your warranty in some regards.

 

[Tractor Factor]

I don't think American Pit Bull was bashing Bro-Tek, but rather talking about just random companies who will make something to make money without researching if it would hurt the tractor it was installed.

There are large incentives for companies like Bro-Tek to look into what they make. A one time sale doesn't help those companies, but repeat business from people like the ones that frequent this iste.

But for some off the grid machine shop that thinks they can make a few bucks on E-Bay or similar avenues aren't going to be too worried about the negative effects their products may have. Usually all they have to do is include a disclaimer.

Either way, by now owners should know that modifying their equipment can/will most likely void your warranty in some regards.

Understood and agreed. APB is obviously a pretty well informed guy. Just don't think you can paint with such a broad brush is all.

 

[Tractor Factor]

As far as engineering goes, well, engineers are not God (and I know a couple). The in-house engineers for just about all manufacturers, from tractors to toasters, often exhibit shortcomings in aspects of their designs, often necessitating subsequent corrections. I think this is often just an unfortunate byproduct of marketing that calls for ever new models and features to help boost sales. Design mistakes and compromises are always going to be with us, that's just the way it is.

Yes, megaboz, I think you're right when you say it really comes down to an issue of warranty.

 

[American Pit Bull]

I disagree wholeheartedly with this statement. A small company like this has the greatest of incentives in the products they put out, and that is the very success of the company itself.

Well the question that I directed my post at was pertaining to why aftermarket parts void the factory warranty.... The quick answer should have been "Because they haven't been tested."


Yes, on the scale of even a good company like BroTek; they have a personal incentive not to push the limits....
But if they release a failure prone design, they will lose sales and, in the worst case scenario, they will go belly up and lose a small investment.

If Kubota releases a failure prone design, at the very minimum, they will have to eat hundreds of thousands in warranty work if not be forced to issue a safety recall that would cost them millions.


BroTek machines good stuff, and they stay within the limitations of proven designs. But Kubota will be able to tell you the exact safety factor that is engineered into the part and what the potential is for failure. After all, they spend millions on R&D just for these purposes.

Aftermarket companies do not want failures, so their sales can grow... OEM parts can't fail due to liabilities that they will incur.
Big difference in a $10k loss in future growth and a $1M liability due to OEM failures.


So yes, aftermarket vendors have some incentive and near zero liability. OEM vendors have great incentive and potentially huge liability.


-Just for the record. I think that BroTek offers solid products and it is great that companies, such as theirs, can give owners options that they factory will not provide.

 

[American Pit Bull]

As far as engineering goes, well, engineers are not God (and I know a couple).

That made me laugh... And I know exactly what you mean! (coming from an engineer)

:thumbsup:

 

[flatpik6]

Well I digress.......back to the discussion of Wheel Spacers.

After much contemplation I went ahead and ordered a set of rear spacers from Richard at Bro-Tek. They will be mounted on my BX24. Even with the tires filled, the slopes on my mountain property in NC create a very "tippy" feeling at times and any additional stability is a welcome thing. Looking forward to getting them on. Now if I could just find a pair of old Crager Mag Rims it would look just like an old Chevelle with tires that are too big for it.

 

[JsBX]

So... 1.5" spacers are ok by the manufacturer and 2" spacers are still ok but put a little bit more stress on the axles.

I have been looking through all the old threads and haven't seen anyone break anything from them.

I have seen some pictures and haven't been able to determine if the front tire will still be in track with the rear after the spacer is added.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

JsBX I think it is just your normal "anti" crowd talking. These spaces double bolt and are not simple "shims".

I expect Kubota tractors are engineered well enough to handle the spacers just fine.

 

[American Pit Bull]

JsBX I think it is just your normal "anti" crowd talking. These spaces double bolt and are not simple "shims".

That's interesting... I haven't seen any negative sentiment what-so-ever, in this thread.

 

[Tractor Factor]

That made me laugh... And I know exactly what you mean! (coming from an engineer)

:thumbsup:

Yeah, I suspected as much about you. Really, I'm one who has great admiration for what it takes to earn an engineering degree of any sort. Takes hard work and perseverance. The contributions of engineers affect all of us in so many ways. People generally aren't very aware of what goes into the design and fabrication of stuff we use every day, most don't give it any thought at all.

My ex-partner went back to school and got a degree...took him 5 years. He's told me all kinds of stuff, and it's fascinating (once you get past the numbers). Actually, it's all numbers...

 

[Tractor Factor]

So... 1.5" spacers are ok by the manufacturer and 2" spacers are still ok but put a little bit more stress on the axles.

I have been looking through all the old threads and haven't seen anyone break anything from them.

I have seen some pictures and haven't been able to determine if the front tire will still be in track with the rear after the spacer is added.

I read every reference I could find on these, and also couldn't find one person who complained that they damaged anything. Doesn't prove anything, of course, but made it a little easier to buy. Not sure about your "tracking" concern.

Comes down to the slight risk of greater wear and tear on the axel vs. the more probable and serious risk of wear and tear to me. If I had mostly flat land I might not worry about it. But I've got mainly hills, terraces, uneven ground and a 20 foot deep gully behind the house. I can live with the risk.